Quote:
Originally Posted by Theory5
Wouldn't constantly creating and closing wormholes cause some kind of disruption in space-time?
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Considering that any such questions are highly speculative, to put it mildly, and that the wording of any question powerfully paths any answer(s) the first qualifier should be "Exactly what do you mean by 'disruption'?" Additionally, any question regarding wormholes, or any other means of sidestepping the speed of light problem (assuming the speed of light is in fact a real barrier) must first pose the speculation of how this is accomplished, how Space-Time is actually structured probably on the Planck Scale. We don't even know if Space-Time is discrete. All of the graphic examples I have seen assume a folding of Space so that the distance between Start and End is vastly reduced maintaining the sanctity of lightspeed. So assuming that mankind can actually cause a folding of Space we have already ssumed that Space can be folded. Considering that neutron stars are only characterized as causing mere dimples this in itself is a huge assumption.
Furthermore it is likely that if the energy requirements are so low as to allow them to be manipulated by humans anytime in the next thousand years or so (How does one manipulate, or even fund the manipulation of, the power of even a small star?), it may be likely that Space has been or is even regularly subject to folding, that it has occurred somewhat often, in cosmological time, and quite naturally. If that is true and if "disruption" implies "danger" to the Universe at large I'd have to answer , "No. No disruption" If instead it implies danger directly to us, well that goes without saying in that some people can't harness the energy of a lawnmower without mishap, let alone what surely must be more energy than that of our Sun on a good day. This is a very long way off since the engineering scale may even exceed recreating Ringworld, and that is beyond monumental. Disruption of Space-Time is maybe last on the long list of problems just getting there.
